News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-17
RECOLLECTIONs OF JENNY LIND.
L. p. Barnum's Chat About the
Singer.

interesting "reminiscences of Jenny
Lind few days ago. "My aut1b1-
ography," said the veteran Snowman,
"glves nearly all that [ can say about
Jenny Lind. Her natural impulses
were most noble and good; [ never met
a person so susceptible of the wants,
needs, or sutferings of others. I could
at any time make her tears flow by re-
lating some case of want, and her dol
lars would flow freely with her tears.
She could not bear the thought of pass
ing by on the other side, when she
could relieve the sorrow of any being,
however humble.
Mr.. Barnum told touching STORY of
an incident that occurred when Jenny
was singing IN Boston. ga poor work
ing girl, he said, ''thrust three dollars
into the hands of the ticket seller at the
Boston Temple for q back seat at
Jenny's concert. On receiving the tick
ct she said: There goes my wages for
one week, but l must hear that good
angel sing Jenny's secretary, her
cousin, Max Hjortzberg, heard the re-
mark and Immediately went to the
green-room and laughingly told it to
Jenny. [ shall never forget how she
| jumped to her feet and exclaimed. 'Oh,
this must not be ! Poor girl, she shall
not lose her money! 1t is wicked! Max,
take this money'-handing him twen-
ty-dollar gold piece search out the
dear creature and put it in her hands,
with my love, God bless her! Cousin
Max found the girl, gave her the money
and message, and witnessed a flood of
grateful tears from the working girls
eyes. If she is alive to-day she will re-
member it.
"When was struggling against the
Jerome clock debts, in 1853" Mr.. Bar
mum went on, 81 took my wife and
children to London. One day Jenny's
husband, Otto Goldsmith, called on me
and said Mrs. Lind, hearing of your
financial misfortune, desired me to call
on you and say, if few hundred
pounds, or thousand, will serve to re-
lieve your present wants, I am to hand
it to you with her kindest regards. We
are now living in Dresden, and my wife
says if you will take your family there
she will gladly find you nice apartments
at low rent, and we shall both be glad
to render you any service we can The
kind offer was declined with thanks, but
it shows the charitable character of this
almost angelic woman.
"She has two children, the elder a
son. The daughter has voice which
Sir Julius Benedict told me he believed
if cultivated would prove equal to her
mothers. But he added, her parents
are rich, and have no ambition to have
her attain musical renown, which would
involve such arduous study and prac-
tice.'
"Her share of profits in our musical
campaign, in 1850 and 1851, was $685.
675.09. She sang in ninety-three con-
certs. She was worth over a million of
dollars when she left the United States
in 1851, and this sum has been in
creased by occasional concerts in Great
Britain, and by the judicious invest
ments of her husband.
"Kind and lady-like as Jenny Lind
was, she had a horror of meeting strang-
ers, and will tell you this story though
it is against myself. During the first
few weeks of our engagement l intro
duced to her numbers of ladies and gen
tlemen who desired to see her. She fire.
Quently intimatcd to me that it was dis
pleasing to her, but I was anxious to
crafty the people who so persistently
sought an introduction. One morning
at the Continental Hotel, in Philadel-
phia, an esteemed lady friend called on
me and asked for an introduction to the
Swedish Nightingale [ told her how
glad 1 would be to crafty her, but these
intrOductions of strangers were very an
noying to Miss Lind and that I really
dreaded to go and ask her permission.
ooh, do please do so just this once, for
I am dying to speak to her, urged my
friend, and at last [ reluctantly con-
scented to ask permission.
"'Miss Lind, | said [ know you dis
like to have me introduce strangers
and | refuse many such requests daily,
but particular lady friend of my fam
lily is waiting in the receptiOn-room
very anxious to speak few words with
you.
'::Jenny surprised me by saying with
a pleasant smile, Dear Mr.. Barnum,
how can [ refuse you anything? Bring
up your lady friend Immediately, by all
means.
81 fastened down stairs, brought up
the lady, and was delighted tointroduce
her. Jenny bowed and received her
graciously, then pointed to a chair and
both We're seated. Jenny's face at once
assumed sober aspect as she said:
Madam [ do not know what to saT to
you; we are perfect strangers. You
have come only to crafty an idle curl
osity; what can [ say"
81 was shocked to hear this, and to
see my friend turn as red as scarlet
when she tried to make some excuse.
'Oh, do not apologize, said Jenny, 4
do not blame you half us much as I do
Mr.. Barnum. | have warned him often
and now [ am compelled to give him
this severe lesson, which I am deter
mined he shall never forget
cit is needless to say that I never did |
forget it, nor, seeing the justice of Jen-
ny's position, did I ever repeat the Of
fence"
GLOW long has it been since Jenny
Lind gave any concerts?" was asked.
81 think it must be ten or fifteen
years." Mr.. Barnum replied. ''She
gave many for charities in England |
that were never known to the public.
The tickets were sold privately, always
at guinea each, and the hall was al
ways filed. During the last year that
she sang, all her concerts were for the
benefit of poor clergymen."